Tool for marking livestock

Abstract

A tool for marking livestock is a cylinder of marking material enveloped by a sheathing. The sheathing is segmented annularly at intervals along the vertical axis and each segment and is cut vertically so that it can be removed in sections to gradually reveal more of the marker.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tool for marking livestock comprising:
 a provided elongate cylindrical volume of pigment; and 
 a semi-rigid tube having an inside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the cylindrical volume of pigment, and 
 said semi-rigid tube having a vertical split; and 
 a cylindrical form having an outside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the cylindrical volume of pigment; and 
 said cylindrical form coaxial and engaged end-to-end with said cylindrical volume of pigment; wherein 
 the semi-rigid tube is a sheath for the cylindrical volume of pigment and is opened at the split and removed as the cylindrical volume of pigment is eroded, and the cylindrical form provides a handle for grasping a portion of the eroded cylindrical volume of pigment. 
 
     
     
       2. The tool for marking livestock of  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical form is biodegradable. 
     
     
       3. The tool for marking livestock of  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical form is a dense, multilayer paper cylinder. 
     
     
       4. The tool for marking livestock of  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical form is plastic. 
     
     
       5. The tool for marking livestock of  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical form is a reusable cork. 
     
     
       6. A tool for marking livestock comprising:
 providing an elongate, cylindrical volume of pigment having a first end and a second end, the first end for marking livestock; and 
 the second end of said cylindrical volume of pigment engaged with a cylindrical form; and 
 at least a first and a second cylindrical sheath, each having an inner surface and an outer surface; and 
 said first cylindrical sheath having a vertical split and an inner surface removably engaged and coaxial with the cylindrical form for marking livestock; and 
 said second cylindrical sheath inner surface removably engaged, and coaxial with the cylindrical volume of pigment and further engaged with said cylindrical form; 
 wherein 
 as the cylindrical volume of pigment becomes shorter by being abraded; cylindrical split sheaths are removed by spreading the split and pulling said sheaths away from the cylindrical volume of pigment; the cylindrical form provides a graspable housing as cylindrical volume of pigment erodes. 
 
     
     
       7. A tool for marking livestock comprising:
 providing an elongate, cylindrical volume of pigment having a first end and a second end, the first end for marking livestock; and 
 the second end of said cylindrical volume of pigment engaged with a cylindrical form; and 
 at least a first and a second helical sheath, each having an inner surface and an outer surface; and 
 said first helical sheath having a vertical split and an inner surface removably engaged and coaxial with the cylindrical form for marking livestock; and 
 said second helical sheath inner surface removably engaged, and coaxial with the cylindrical volume of pigment and further engaged with said cylindrical form; 
 wherein 
 as the cylindrical volume of pigment becomes shorter by being abraded; helical split sheaths are removed by spreading the split and pulling said helical sheaths away from the cylindrical volume of pigment; the cylindrical form in combination with the second helical sheath provides a graspable housing as cylindrical volume of pigment erodes.